Writing a Research Manuscript

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Chapter 14

• Writing a Research Manuscript

2006 Prentice Hall, Salkind.
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CHAPTER OVERVIEW

• What a Manuscript Looks Like
• Nuts and Bolts

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WHAT A MANUSCRIPT LOOKS LIKE

• Title Page
• Abstract
• Introduction
• Method
• Results
• Discussion
• References

• Appendices
• Author Note
• Footnotes
• Table Captions
• Tables
• Figure Captions
• Figures

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TITLE PAGE
Guns and Chewing Gum 1 Running Head GUNS AND CHEWING GUM Guns and Chewing Gum The Perception of Reality of Problem Behaviors in Public Schools Neil Salkind1, Douglas Adams, Craig Dermer, Jackie Heinerikson, B. Jones and Erin Nash University of Kansas
Running Head
Title
Authors
Institutional Affiliation
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ABSTRACT

• A one-sentence statement of purpose
• A brief description of participants
• A brief description of results
• Any conclusions being offered

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ABSTRACT
Guns and Chewing Gum 2 Abstract In a 1994 New York Times article, Barry ONeill traced the evolution of two lists (one from the 1940s and one from the 1980s) of reportedly serious behaviors in the public schools. He found the origins of the list
Running head appears on each page
No indent
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INTRODUCTION

• Outlines background of problem
• Helps reader understand problem
• States purpose of study

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INTRODUCTION
Guns and Chewing Gum 3 Guns and Chewing Gum The Perceptions and Reality of Problem Behaviors in Public Schools In 1994, Barry ONeill (ONeill, 1994) wrote an article that appeared in the Sunday Magazine section of the New York Times, titled The History of a Hoax. The article traced the evolution of two lists of the reportedly most serious behaviors in the public schools, one list generated during the1940s and one list generated during the 1980s.
Title
Level 1 heading
All text is double spaced
1.5 inch margin
1.5 inch margin
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METHOD

• Describes how the study was conducted
• The most common subheads are
• Participantswho they were and what special
  characteristics they had what instructions were
  given
• Instrumentswhat tests, drugs, computers, etc.,
  were used
• Data Analysishow the data were analyzed

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METHOD
Guns and Chewing Gum 5 rankings of the seriousness of a list of behaviors as a function of whether or not the respondents currently teach in the public schools. Method Participants The sample consisted of predominantly middle class U.S. Midwestern adults who ranged in age from 23 to 58 years with a mean age of 37.2. There were 125 females and 25 males, with 113 of the total sample currently teaching and 36 not.
Level 1 heading
Level 2 heading
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INSTRUCTIONS FOR PLACEMENT OF TABLES AND FIGURES
Guns and Chewing Gum 5 The list of behaviors (organized alphabetically) is shown in Table 1. This list was compiled based on interviews with 30 adults, 15 of whom currently teach in the public schools.
Reference to where table 1 should be placed
Insert Table 1 about here
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RESULTS

• Descriptive statistics
• Outcomes of inferential statistical tests
• References to tables and figures

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RESULTS
Guns and Chewing Gum 6 Results and Discussion Tables 2 and 3 represent the same data organized in different ways. Table 2 shows the most serious behaviors ranked by the sample of teachers and nonteachers. Table 3 shows the 13 most serious behaviors listed in alphabetical order and the associated ranks and average seriousness score for the total sample, teachers and nonteachers.
Level 1 heading
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DISCUSSION

• Evaluation of study
• How this study relates to past studies
• What the results mean
• Contributions the study makes
• Implications and limitations
• Sometimes, results and discussion are reported
  together in one section

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REFERENCES

• Sources consulted during course of study
• Must be in appropriate format

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REFERENCES
Level 1 heading
Guns and Chewing Gum 9 References Berliner, D.C., Biddle, B.J. (1996). The manufactured crisis Myths, fraud, and the attack on Americas public schools. Boston. Addison-Wesley. Gallup poll of public attitudes toward the public schools. (1987) Phi Delta Kappan, 69, 28-29. King-Stoops, J., Meier, W. (1978). Teacher analysis of the discipline problem. Phi Delta Kappan, 59, 354. Males, M. (1992). Top school problems are myths. Phi Delta Kappan, 72, 54-55. ONeill, B. (1994, March 6). The history of a hoax. New York Times Magazine, 31, 15-21.
Book reference
Journal article references
Magazine/ Periodical reference
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END MATTER

• APPENDICES
• Non essential, but important information
• Often original data or drawings
• AUTHOR NOTES
• Supplementary information
• FOOTNOTES
• Elaboration on references or other technical
  points in manuscript

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TABLES

• Table captionsa list of tables to follow and
  their respective captions
• Tables
• Text arranged in columns or rows
• Numbered consecutively

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FIGURES

• Figure captionsIdentify each of the figures with
  a number and title
• Figures
• Actual figures